South Australia’s largest university art collection has been showcased in a new book, Speak to me: conversations with the Flinders University Art Collections.
The book, a symbolic nod to Flinders University’s 50th Anniversary, was officially launched last week at an event hosted by Professor Helen Chatterjee from University College London.
Professor Helen Chatterjee MBE, Head of Research and Teaching, University College London. Professor Chatterjee is an award winning academic and advocate of collections-based learning in higher education.
In the past 50 years, Flinders University has been collecting original works of art. These were originally acquired by the former Department of Fine Arts and are now housed and managed by Flinders University Art Museum.
This art collection of 8,000 pieces is one of the largest of any university nationwide and is a rich tapestry of artistic and cultural history, says Fiona Salmon, director of the Flinders University Art Museum.
Speak to me: conversations with the Flinders University Art Collections highlights the strengths and diversity of Flinders University’s visual art holdings that have been curated over the past half century.
The book features art from a selection of styles including contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Australian, European, early Japanese and indigenous works from Papua New Guinea, North America and Africa.
Member of the Flinders community, including academics, professional staff and higher degree students, were invited to provide their thoughts on selected artwork; these insights can be found within the pages of the book.
Speak to me: conversations with the Flinders University Art Collections is available to purchase from the Flinders University City Gallery, at the State Library of South Australia, or via the website at http://artmuseum.flinders.edu.au/publications/
Purchases can also be made by calling the City Gallery during its opening hours, Tuesday to Friday 11am-4pm or Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 4pm. Postage charges apply.